team orange racing

New shifter fitted, engine stripped, checked and put back together. Roll on Easter !

First run with new fingers in the clutch netted a new pb of 8.78 but the clutch was too violent off the line.  On closer inspection we found the fingers were not quite the same as the old ones.  After removing the box several times we got it set up right.  Our first attempt at slowing the pop to 8.90 resulted in another pb 8.7617 @ 151.11 mph. We eventually got the right side of the index with the boost down, the launch rpm down and a fat tune in it and went 8.97.  I never thought the day would come when I would struggle to go slow enough for Super Comp in my Rover-powered Pop.

In round 1 I ran a 8.97, on the brakes, which beat Collin Morrice as he broke out. Round 2 crossed the line first by 0.0008 but ran 8.8893 to Norbert Schneider's 8.8956 so he won as he broke out by less. He went on to win the event. Congratulations Norbert.

Open Sports Nationals , Shakespeare County Raceway

With the help of Malc, Marcie and Callum Motler we ran a new best of 8.80 @ 147.89, but lost in round one with a 9.92 and a bad reaction time. Then found a finger had broken on the clutch, it then hit and bent the other two.

Ran our first 8

22 May 2009 Main Event Santa Pod ran 8.9599 @142.92

23 May 2009 ran 8.9305 @146.13,  8.9604 @ 143.81 and 8.95 @143.86

The first 8 second pass by a Rover V8 engine without nitrous ?

We went to the Springspeed Nationals, with Malcolm, Marcia and Callum Motler with one objective, to run an eight. Following a chat with Jon Webster, of Webster Race Engineering, we had decided on a new direction with the clutch, especially as the data logger showed the clutch had slipped all through top gear on our last run at The Easter Thunderball.

Things did not start to well as on run one, the limiter stayed set on launch rpm so the run was aborted.

Run two, 9.053 @ 143.97 a new pb for et and speed and the clutch locked up in top gear.

Run three, leaned the motor out one pill size and ran 9.002 @ 144.35 another pb.

Run four, leaned the motor another pill, launched hard, one hundreth quicker 60ft, but but drifted to the centre line and backed off.

Day two. Run five, put a bit of pre load in but otherwise as run four. Went a bit left and had to feather the throttle ran 9.14 @ 142.66 still a pb before this meeting.

Run six. Took half the pre load back out. Bounced down the track to a 9.178 @ 142.86. On checking the data logger the clutch had bitten the released several times. So we stripped the clutch and removed the glaze ready for eliminations on Monday morning. Thanks Malc.

Day Three. Unfortunately it rained in the morning. The crew got the track dry in the afternoon but when we fired up to warm the motor, we found water in cylinder 8, caused by head gasket failure. Oh well no eight.

Not a bad weekend though, all four full passes were our quickest ever and we are finally getting somewhere with the cluth. We also have more to go leaning out the motor plus more boost available roll on The Main Event.

Problems did not end there as my tow van decided to breakdown. The bolt holding the cam belt tentioner had snapped. So a long wait for the right tow truck, eventually I got home about 12.45am.

Despite rain, rain and more rain and problems getting off the start line, we managed (with the help of Malk, Marcie and Callum Motler) to run a new pb. 9.185. With a very soft launch and mild tune, 3 or 4 more runs would have got us close, but this was not to be.

New pick-up bed finnished, Rear Anti roll bar fitted. Ready for Easter Thunderball!

New pick-up bed takes shape.

 Although we ran 9.26 at the National Finals with a mild tune and soft launch, we feel we have a way to go to run 8.90. So I am spending the winter fitting an anti roll bar to the rear and removing excess weight from the truck. This includes a new pick-up bed, new rear arches and a new light Varley Red Top Battery supplied by our supporter Camauto from their ebay shop www.stores.ebay.co.uk/camautodevelopments

New red top battery in place          Ply patterns for new pick-up sides               Mould for new arches

New arch straight from mould